Teatru Salesjan

Sliema, Malta

From its inception in 1910, Teatru Salesjan functioned as a social magnet within Sliema, with philanthropic events and theatrical societies all calling the site home. Over time, advances in technical and theatrical infrastructure gradually made it more challenging to host contemporary productions. As a result, the theatre was missing out on potential shows, putting it at risk of becoming an outdated and financially unsustainable venue; a fate which many community theatres on the island have unfortunately succumbed to. By preserving its status as a social hub, the renovated and upgraded theatre is poised to strengthen the relationships between the building, its neighbouring urban environment, and the local community.

The interventions sought a sustainable design which included the missing modern building services. Theatrical lighting, fire safety, HVAC and Audio-Visual systems were discreetly integrated into the reworked balcony, limiting alterations to significant heritage features while offering flexible adaptability for different performance typologies. The drive behind this approach was to avoid visual clutter, preserve original finishes where feasible, and maintain the theatre’s characteristic clarity of form.

Completed 2024 

Images by Hanna Briffa